Just One Yesterday – Fall Out Boy
I didn’t listen to much Fall Out Boy as a high schooler – somehow I slipped past my emo phase – but I was surprised by how much I loved this song. It’s gritty and intense, and it’s high on my writing playlist. The whole chorus that the title is taken from is just stunning.
I’m On Fire – Bruce Springsteen
I heard this on the radio recently. It led to me pulling up the lyrics to make sure I was hearing them wrong. Once you get past the creepiness of the opening lines – and you understand that they’re not what you think – this song is rather lovely. It’s got a gentle, smooth rhythm and Springsteen’s voice is fantastic. The calmness in the lines “I’m on fire” goes wonderfully against the words, and the short length of this song leaves you with the same yearning as the singer.
Semi-Charmed Life – Third Eye Blind
This song is such a classic that there’s not much that hasn’t already been said about it. I listened to this all the time when I was a kid. It’s one of those songs where the tone and lyrics are incongruous – but that really makes it all the more iconic. It’s a perfectly-executed story about the dangers of addiction.
Wake Me Up – Avicii
Like the previous one, this is a song that’s extremely well-known and beloved. It’s made its way back onto my playlists since I first heard it. For me, this was everyone’s anthem when we were in high school. Listening to it takes me back. It’s truly a song with the perfect music and vocals. And when you know Avicii’s personal story and the mental health struggles he faced, the lyrics feel all the more personal.
Iron Man – Black Sabbath
I stumbled onto this song on YouTube and proceeded to show it to my entire family. It’s not just the epic rock music – the lyrics tell a Twilight Zone-style story that takes a few listenings to fully comprehend. The beat adds to the narrative in a fascinatingly immersive way.
